Super Rugby Match of the Round: Highlanders steal their first victory of the season in extra time-
The Brumbies came into the game undefeated this season, while the Highlanders came off a disappointing home defeat to the Sharks. Aaron Mauger’s side had one thing favoring them heading into the game was the fact that they had won four games on the trot against the Brumbies.
Josh Ioane scored the first score points of the match for the Highlanders. However, the Brumbies scored the first try of the game on the back of forwarding, Folau Fainga. Brumbies did most of the defending for the first few minutes, but once the Brumbies got an opportunity, they took their chance and scored.
The Brumbies forward formed a rolling maul and Fainga went over the chalk for the try in the 11th minute. Noah Lolesio missed the conversion. The brumbies then scored another try of the back of a driving maul and Fainga again scored a try in the 29th minute. Lolesio slotted the conversion. The score was 12-3 in favor of the Brumbies.
The Highlanders scored their first try of the night through a Jona Nareki charge down. Noah Lolesio looked to clear the ball, but Jona Nareki pulled off a charge down to score the first try for the Highlanders in the 31st minute. Josh Ioane converted the try. The score read 12-10.
The Highlanders then took the lead for the second time in the game in the 38th minute. Ioane converted the penalty. The score read 13-12 at half-time in favor of the Highlanders.
Ioane extended the lead for his side to 4 points in the 42nd minute. After the slotted another penalty. Things got difficult for the Highlanders. Patelesio Tomkinson received a yellow card for a no arms tackle which roughened Brumbies fullback, Tom Banks.
The Brumbies took advantage and scored their third try of the back off a driving maul, and Folau Fainga scored a hat-trick in the 67th minute. Ryan Lonergan converted they try to give the Brumbies led again with the score at 19-16. Josh Ioane missed a vital penalty.
When Ryan Lonergan slotted a penalty 6 minutes away from full-time, the Highlanders looked most likely to lose their first match in Canberra after 5 meetings in Canberra. The game went past the 80-minute mark and Murray Douglas went to the sin bin for the Brumbies. The next minute, Teariki Ben-Nicholas scored the winner for the Highlanders. The Highlanders shifted the ball back to the left side saw Ben-Nicholas go over the try-line and Josh Ioane converted the try.
The Highlanders won and extended their streak over the Brumbies to 5 games in Canberra. The Highlanders won the game 22-21.
Stars for the game for the Brumbies were Folau Fainga scored 3 tries, made 10 carries ran 6 meters, 2 passes, and 7 tackles. Solomone Kata on the attack had a good game, making 3 carries for 14 meters, 2 clean breaks, and 2 passes. Allan Alaalatoa made 9 passes for 11 meters, beat 1 defender, and made 1 pass, 1 offload, and 11 tackles.
Rugby
Stars for the Highlanders were Jona Nareki scored 1 try, made 11 carries for 23 meters, beat defender, 1 clean break, 1 pass, and 6 tackles. Shannon Frizzel made 5 carries for 16 meters, beat 5 tackles, made 1 pass, 1 offload and made 5 tackles. Marino Mikaele Tu’u made 4 carries for 15 meters, 1 clean break and 6 passes and 3 tackles.
The Brumbies face the top of the table, Chiefs at FMG Stadium in Waikato, while the Highlanders face the defending champions, the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium.
